Career Center

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

Opt in below to receive text message updates on CDHS recruiting events!

CDHSCareers

Registered Dietitians fulfill a didactic role in providing clinical dietetic services and managing the food service subsystems/resources in the execution of the department's mission as stated above.  The purpose of this position is to provide medical nutrition therapy to patients in a mental health hospital setting. The position works closely with departmental and interdisciplinary teams to provide inpatient care. Utilizes the Nutrition Care Process and Terminology to assess nutrition status, identify nutrition diagnoses, and develop, implement, and evaluate outcomes of nutrition care plans for patients at nutrition risk. 

• Nutrition Assessment: Assesses the nutrition status of patients by systematically collecting, recording, and interpreting relevant data from patients, hospital clinicians, caregivers, and other individuals and groups. Utilizes food/nutrition-related history; anthropometric measurements; biochemical data, medical tests and procedures; nutrition-focused physical findings; and patient history to determine factors affecting nutrition and health status, and compares data to criteria, relevant norms, and standards for interpretation and decision-making. Organizes and categorizes the data in a meaningful framework that links nutrition assessment parameters with nutrition diagnoses, and determines when a problem requires consultation with or referral to another health care professional.
• Nutrition Diagnosis: Finds patterns and relationships among the nutrition assessment data to identify a nutrition problem that can be resolved or improved through medical nutrition therapy. Prioritizes the relative importance of problems for patient safety. Utilizes standard nutrition diagnostic terminology to write a PES (problem, etiology, and signs/symptom) statement that describes the problem, its root cause, and the assessment data that provides evidence for the nutrition diagnosis. 
• Nutrition Intervention/Plan of Care: Formulates a nutrition intervention plan based on the nutrition diagnosis and its etiology that prioritizes diagnoses based on urgency, impact, and available resources including Standards of Practice (SOPs), up-to-date medical nutrition therapy practices/evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines; coordinates care with other healthcare professionals; and considers patients’ values and expected outcomes. 
• Nutrition Monitoring and Evaluation: Identifies patient outcomes relevant to the nutrition diagnosis and intervention plans and goals to determine the amount of progress made and whether goals/expected outcomes are being met. Monitor and measure outcomes by selecting nutrition care indicators that are relevant to the nutrition diagnosis and its etiology and signs/symptoms, as well as to the nutrition intervention, medical diagnosis, and quality management goals for nutrition, patient population, and disease state and/or severity.
• Documentation and Communication: Documents relevant, accurate, and timely information performed in the Nutrition Care Process in the patient’s electronic medical record. Communicates and influences treatment interventions determined by the healthcare team through interdisciplinary team meetings, rounds, and nutrition-related in-services; serves as a subject matter expert and resource of nutrition. Works collaboratively with food service staff and other RD/RDNs to assure conformance with and continuation of the nutrition care plan.

• Participates in continuous quality improvement activities for nutrition care services.
• Participates in the patient council and surveys client input to enhance food service operations.
• Interrelates with other departments to exchange information, elicit support and in collaborative decision- making. 
• Serves on committees and oral boards at the hospital, CDHS, and state level. 
• Participates in planning, developing and implementing nutrition-related policies, procedures, and goals.
• Assists in developing and revising patient or staff education materials, clinical forms and protocols.
• Demonstrates accountability with rules for use and disclosure of patient/client protected health information requested by HIPPA.
• Assures the care delivered to each patient is in accordance with state regulation and licensing, certification, or registration for the nutrition and dietetics practitioner. 
• Assists in achieving compliance with the Joint Commission and other accrediting agency standards to continuously improve both the safety and quality of care for the patient/client and the organization’s overall performance.
• Complies with state and federal requirements set forth under CMS. 
• Maintains accurate record keeping of daily clinical activities.
• Develops and maintains positive and trusted working relationships.

• Assists in updating nutrition standards of practice for the Registered Dietitian at the CMHHIP.
• Provides input to clinical nutrition related policies and procedures.  
• Supports review and development of clinical nutrition protocols and menus for use within the hospital.
• Participate in nutrition projects and communicate findings through reports, presentations, etc.
• Develops and implements an individualized portfolio plan based on competencies and performance indicators that demonstrate professional growth and development.
• Continuously improves performance to advance knowledge based on applied practice-informed evidence, and feedback from others.
• Applies Scope of Practice, Standards of Practice (SOPs) tools for credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners.
• Communicates effectively with patients and staff through professional communications, writing and presentations.

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor or Appointing Authority.

•  Must possess and maintain current registration as a registered dietitian

• Five (5) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position
  • Acceptable relevant experience in: Dietetics or nutrition experience as a licensed dietitian

• A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position equal to five (5) years
  • Related education in: Dietetics or food and nutrition as granted by the US regionally accredited college or university, or foreign equivalent. Completion of required dietetics coursework and supervised practice through a Didactic Program in Dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 

Communication

• Provides clear and consistent written and verbal communications and counseling.

• Communicates comprehensive knowledge and application of nutrition services.

• Communicates clearly and effectively with patients, the public, and hospital and medical staff through professional communications, technical writing, and presentations.

Interpersonal Relations

• Develops and maintains positive and trusted working relationships.

• Addresses customer, client, and employee concerns and needs.

• Treats all with respect, dignity, and compassion.

Technical Knowledge

• Possesses knowledge of the Nutrition Care Process and Terminology (NCPT) and the

ability to apply all steps of the process.

• Demonstrates proficiency in use of technology and its applications, including word

processing, nutrient analysis, and spreadsheet software.

Analytical Thinking

• Systematically gathers information from a variety of sources and utilizes critical thinking to integrate facts, informed opinions, active listening, and observations.

• Analyzes information to help identify implications, solutions, and conclusions based on

appropriate data.

• Uses existing procedures, experience, and judgment to solve problems.

Customer Focus

• Demonstrates service excellence and patient- and family-centered care by showing respect, honesty, fairness, and a positive attitude toward all customers.

• Strives for high customer satisfaction when working with patients, families, coworkers,

other departments, physicians/providers, and the community.

• Meets customer service needs quickly and effectively; takes action to review and remedy customer complaints.

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

How to Apply

The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact jonathan.benavids@state.co.us

About Us: 

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• BenefitHub state employee discount program

• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

*Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs.

Our Values:

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.  

ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at  cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~